Mets-Braves Game 2 Recap

Mets RHP Edwin Diaz (Credits to MetsMerizedOnline.com)

The New York Mets lost to the Atlanta Braves 5-3 today in 10 innings for their first loss of the season and dropped their record to 1-1. LHP Steven Matz had a strong first outing of the season allowing one run on two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts. Matz featured a sharp change-up and curveball and had increased velocity on his fastball. He looked a lot of more comfortable and relaxed on the mound and can hopefully build off this in his next starts.  RHP Jeurys Familia followed and threw a scoreless top of the seventh inning. RHP Dellin Betances came in next and recorded two outs in the top of the eighth. LHP Justin Wilson had to come in and gave up a single to 1B Matt Adams, but came back to strike out Braves star centerfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. with the bases loaded to end the inning. RHP Edwin Diaz came on in the top of the ninth inning for the save, but his struggles with giving up home runs continued after he gave up a game-tying solo homer to DH Marcell Ozuna with two outs. RHP Hunter Strickland came on in the top of the tenth inning and was the first Met pitcher to experience new extra inning rule with a runner at second base to start the inning. Strickland gave up three runs on a single and two doubles.

The offense didn't do much and had only three runs on nine hits. In the bottom of the fourth, RF Michael Conforto led off with a double and SS Amed Rosario followed with an RBI triple. 3B Jeff McNeil later drove in Rosario with a sacrifice fly. The bats went quiet until the bottom of the tenth after pinch-hitter Dom Smith drove in McNeil with a sacrifice fly.

The Mets next game is tomorrow night against the Braves on Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN at 7:08 P.M.